EVALUATION OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF ALUMINIUM ALLOY 2024 REINFORCED WITH SILICON CARBIDE AND FLY ASH HYBRID METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES

Abstract

Materials are frequently chosen for structural applications because they have desirable combinations of mechanical characteristics. Development of hybrid metal matrix composites has become an important area of research interest in Materials Science. In view of this, the present study focuses on the formation of aluminium-Sic-fly ash hybrid metal matrix composites. The present study was aimed at evaluating the physical properties of Aluminium 2024 in the presence of silicon carbide, fly ash and its combinations. Consequently aluminium metal matrix composite combines the strength of the reinforcement with the toughness of the matrix to achieve a combination of desirable properties not available in any single conventional material. The compositions were added up to the ultimate level and stir casting method was used for the fabrication of aluminium metal matrix composites. Structural characterization was carried out on metal matrix composites by x-ray diffraction studies and optical microscopy was used for the micro structural studies. The mechanical behaviors of metal matrix composites like density, tensile strength, yield strength, elongation and hardness tests were ascertained by performing carefully designed laboratory experiments that replicate as nearly as possible the service conditions. In the presence of silicon carbide and fly ash [SiC (5%) + fly ash (10%) and fly ash (10%) + SiC (10%)] with aluminium, it was fairly observed that the density of the composites was decreased and the hardness was increased. Correspondingly, the increase in tensile strength was also observed but elongation of the hybrid metal matrix composites in comparison with unreinforced aluminium was decreased. The aluminium-SiC-fly ash hybrid metal matrix composites significantly differed in all of the properties measured. Aluminium in the presence of SiC (10%)-fly ash (10%) was the hardest instead of aluminium-SiC and cluminium-fly ash composites. The study can be further extended by evaluating the wear and corrosion of the resultant material.